I came to town to search for goldAnd I brought with me a memoryAnd seem to hear the night wind cryGo hang your dreams on the hanging treeYour dreams of love that could never beHang your faded dreams on the hanging tree

I searched for gold and I found my goldAnd I found a girl who loved just meAnd I wish that I could love her tooBut I left my heart on the hanging treeI left my heart with a memoryAnd a faded dream on the hanging tree

Now there were men who craved my goldAnd meant to take my gold from meWhen a man is gone he needs no goldSo they carried me to the hanging treeTo join my dreams and a memoryYes they carried me to the hanging tree

To really live you must almost dieAnd it happened just that way with meThey took my gold and set me freeAnd I walked away from the hanging treeI walked away from the hanging treeAnd my own true love she walked with me

That’s when I knew that the hanging treeWas a tree of life new life for meA tree of hope new hope for meA tree of love new love for me